Summary
- Qatar Airways has announced its plans to launch complimentary WiFi on three Boeing 777-300ERs by Q4 2024.
- SpaceX’s Starlink will be provide the internet connectivity to the airline.
- Other airlines like airBaltic, Air New Zealand, and Hawaiian Airlines, have also announced intentions to use Starlink for internet connectivity.
Qatar Airways has announced that it will launch Starlink WiFi services onboard its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in Q4 2024, adding the service to three aircraft of the type initially. The airline will upgrade its entire modern fleet of aircraft with the internet connectivity solution within two years.
Complimentary WiFi
According to the airline, it would be the first carrier to offer complimentary WiFi services enabled by SpaceX’s Starlink solution in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Qatar Airways said that three Boeing 777-300ER aircraft would be fitted with hardware capable of receiving a signal from the thousands of Starlink satellites by Q4 2024.
Photo: Suparat Chairatprasert | Shutterstock
Qatar Airways and SpaceX announced the development at the Aircraft Interior Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany, on May 29. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Qatar Airways Group’s chief executive officer (CEO), and Mike Nicolls, SpaceX’s Vice President of Starlink Engineering, were present in Germany.
The carrier stated that the move has solidified its commitment to elevating its passenger experience onboard its aircraft. Qatar Airways plans to progressively extend the complimentary WiFi service throughout its entire fleet within the next two years.
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Customer-first mindset
According to Al-Meer, the partnership with Starlink was a testament to Qatar Airways’ customer-first mindset and its commitment to elevating the experience for its guests to unprecedented heights. The CEO added that the airline continues improving its innovative offerings to meet and exceed passengers’ expectations when traveling with Qatar Airways.
Photo: MBekir | Shutterstock
Meanwhile, Nicolls stated that Starlink’s high-speed and low-latency internet was the future of connectivity within aviation, adding that the US-based company was excited to work with Qatar Airways on this project and to install its hardware on three 777-300ERs initially.
“Soon, all Qatar Airways passengers will be able to enjoy all the benefits of the world’s best in-flight connectivity from the comfort of their seats.”
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Airlines using Starlink
Several airlines across the globe have announced or begun using Starlink for their in-flight connectivity, including airBaltic, Air New Zealand, and Hawaiian Airlines. Hawaiian Airlines was the first carrier to announce a partnership with Starlink on April 25, 2022, saying that it would equip its Airbus A330 and A321neo aircraft and the incoming Boeing 787-9s in 2023.
However, it launched flights with Starlink on February 8, 2024, becoming the world’s first major airline to use the solution to provide its customers with high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity onboard. The first aircraft equipped with Starlink was an Airbus A321neo, registered as N228HA.
Photo: MBekir | Shutterstock
Meanwhile, airBaltic began testing Starlink’s internet on March 28. The Riga Airport (RIX)-based carrier only tested the solution on the ground, with the airline adding that it was still working with SpaceX to receive the required supplemental type certificate (STC). airBaltic stated that it anticipated the first hardware installations on its aircraft by the end of 2024.
Air New Zealand announced its collaboration with Starlink in December 2023, promising that it would begin offering internet on its ATR turboprops and regional jets in late 2024. After a successful trial, the Kiwi carrier would look to equip its domestic fleet with the solution in 2025.
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